Read. Scripts. Better.

We help you think like a writer to make your performances stronger!

LEARN MORE
GET STARTED NOW
 

Think Like a Writer

Go beyond memorization and into the world on the page

LEARN MORE
GET STARTED NOW
 

Story First. Memorize Last.

Build the context of the story before you highlight anything

LEARN MORE
GET STARTED NOW
 

Off Book: Online Classes

Audition and Self Tape Classes Now in Session!

LEARN MORE
GET STARTED NOW
 

Read. Scripts. Better.

We help you think like a writer to make your performances stronger!

GET STARTED
DOWNLOAD PDF
 

Think Like a Writer

Go beyond memorization and into the world on the page

LEARN MORE
GET STARTED NOW
 

Story First. Memorize Last.

Build the context of the story before you highlight anything

LEARN MORE
GET STARTED NOW
 

Off Book: Online Classes

Audition and Self Tape Classes Now in Session!

LEARN MORE
GET STARTED NOW

Read. Scripts. Better.

We help you think like a writer and make your performances stronger!

Off Book Acting is not an acting class.  We teach actors how to discover the writer’s intention of the scene. The writer has a purpose for every scene and every character. Your job is to know the purpose of your role in the scene and bring your genuine humanity to life with that purpose.  Off Book Acting teaches you the tools and skills to consistently read scripts better and create stronger performances, take after take.

 

A Acting Class

Read. Scripts. Better.

We help you think like a writer and make your performances stronger!

Off Book Acting is not an acting class.  We teach actors how to discover the writer’s intention of the scene. The writer has a purpose for every scene and every character. Your job is to know the purpose of our role in the scene and bring your genuine humanity to life with that purpose.  Off Book Acting teaches you the tools and skills to consistently read scripts better and create stronger performances, take after take.

“Get out of your head, into your space,
and await the invisible stranger.”

– Viola Spolin

OBA Students Past & Present

“

“Will Doughty is, quite simply, a great teacher and so much fun. He has found a way to help actors apply all the freedom and creativity in improvisation toward written material. It is the perfect marriage of text and imagination. Not only do I recommend it without hesitation, I also would happily work with him every day.”

-Kathe Mazur(Major Crimes, The Closer)
“

"Will Doughty’s OFF BOOK Workshop has been an inspiration both for me and my students. It combines the freedom and spontaneity of improv with detailed text work. Will is an amazing teacher - generous, wise, fun, and challenging in the best way. Every actor of all levels will get an enormous boost to their work from this class."

- James Eckhouse(Beverly Hills 90210, The Avengers, Code Black)
“

"Will's instruction teaches the most useful, and bookable, of all actor skill sets--Presence, Adaptability, and a sense of Play! I have found myself to be more Present, Grounded, and to Live in the world of the script! This has allowed me to stay loose and available on set... And in multiple occasions, has directly led me to being Re-Hired!! I cannot recommend him enough. "

- David Meadows(Imperium, House of Cards, Captain Phillips)
“

“I’ve never met a teacher that can bring out the Play in an actor like Will Doughty. He’s a Contagious Goof & Encourages All the Fun. This gives YOU the confidence to work in a way that other classes just can’t offer! He brings you off the page and into what matters: The Relationship. Then he gets you to dig deep into an Exciting and Specific Performance. Thanks to Will, I look at a Script, Get what I Need, then PLAY Wildly - can’t recommend enough!”

- Tessa RaeWriter/Actor, Casting Assistant (Masters of Sex)
“

"Will Doughty has brought his gifts and teaching skills with OFF BOOK to The Collaborative on quite a few occasions. He continues to be one of our most popular teachers. Our members respond so enthusiastically to his approach & his passion. For actors at any point in their career, this workshop has tremendous benefits and is sure to help their work feel more spontaneous, free and creative. We are so grateful to have him as part of our community!"

- Alexa AlemanniPresident of The Collaborative (FKA Reel Pros)

The Classes

Get Specific

6 week course

New Round

Starting Sept 2022

About the class:
Learn how to think like a writer in this Off Book Acting foundation course

  • Master the strategies for reading a script to embody your character

  • Create a specific game plan for reading any script (any genre)

  • Learn how to find more specific choices on the page and build a fuller, richer role

  • Know what questions to ask (and in what order) to optimize your preparation

  • Unlock the writer’s intention of the story every time

  • Stop just memorizing lines and live in the full world on the page

  • Class open to all levels

Apply Now
Audition Preparation

Ongoing monthly

New Monthly 4 week starts Sept. 2022

About this class:

This monthly ongoing class provides a new audition scenario each week! Get a working actor’s experience every class, every month!

  • On Camera, Zoom and Self Tape audition preparation
  • Learn how to define the purpose of your role
  • Unlock the writer’s intention of the scene
  • Create a strategy for reading every audition the exact same way, resulting in a standout performance, take after take
  • Every Actor works every class
  • Class size: 8 actors max
  • By application only
Apply Now

Self Tape Studio and Private Coaching starting at $1/ minute!

By appointment only:

CLICK HERE

Own Your Casting

8 Week Limited Series: Online

Next Round: Oct. 2022

About the Class: 

Define your castability and create a self tape audition that showcases your strengths and current work now!

By application only

LEARN MORE HERE

Apply Now

BIO

Hi, have we met?

I’m Will Doughty, actor/teacher/creator of Off Book Acting. With 20+ years experience in the entertainment industry including television credits for NBC, Showtime and Comedy Central and a dozen national commercial campaigns, our classes are high energy, positive, supportive and empowering.

 

My story starts with improvisation. I have studied and performed improv in Chicago, Minneapolis, Los Angeles, New York, Austin, and San Francisco. My LA training includes UCB, iOWest, Second City as well as co-producing Crashbar Improv weekly for 5 years. Improvisation taught me to think like a writer, on my feet! As the actor/writer in an improv you must start with basic story structure to get everyone on the same page.

 

Our classes and coaching lead with the Story First! Honoring the writer’s intention of the story and your role in that story before memorizing your lines. We believe everything you need for a standout performance is on the page. Off Book Acting uses story questions to guide an actor to connect with the context of the scene resulting in a purposeful performance driven by writer’s intention. Clarity. Connection and Consistency are the three goals of every OBA workout and coaching. Our mantra is “Story First. Memorize Last”! Welcome to Off Book Acting.



Get Started

By telling us your story we can place you in the best course of action to take your career to the next level.

  1. Fill out the form below
  2. We will reach out to schedule your 15 minute career consultation call
  3. Choose your course of action

As a thank you we will send you our free download pdf guide:

“Read. Scripts. Better.” to your inbox!

Let’s get started!

OBA INQUIRY FORM + FREE PDF!

(Please briefly let us know about your past training):
(Examples: Audition Technique. Self Tape strategies. Ongoing class. Free PDF)
(Examples: Referred by [name], Instagram, Google Search, etc.)